Election FAQ (April 7, 2020)

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, we all went through news whiplash when it came to today's election in Wisconsin. I want to share the newest information and clarify what’s going on when it comes to the election today, April 7.

To summarize, midday yesterday Governor Tony Evers tried to postpone in-person voting for today’s Spring Primary and General election until June 9th through an executive order, in order to protect our communities from the spread of COVID-19. 

Wisconsin Republican leaders challenged Gov. Evers’ executive order in court, and around 5:00pm, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down that order. That means Wisconsin DOES have in-person voting today. 

Then, around 6:00, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on a different Republican voting challenge. SCOTUS decided that all Absentee ballots must be postmarked or hand-delivered today, April 7, to count for this election.

So, to sum up where we are at today: there is in-person voting across the state, and all absentee ballots must be returned to municipal clerks today or postmarked by today.

While voting is happening today, what you will see today will not be our normal elections. Throughout our state, there are severe or total shortages in poll workers, causing many polling sites to close. In Milwaukee, there are only five polling places, and hundreds of thousands of people may try to vote. Lines were already backed up around the block before polls even opened this morning, especially in some of the hardest hit, majority people of color neighborhoods.

And while the National Guard is helping out in some communities in Wisconsin, those are areas with no poll workers at all -- they can’t relieve the massive shortages many communities still have. Our polls will look different too, as communities implement social distancing to protect voters and poll workers, and this will likely cause further delays. 

A lot of you have reached out to me with questions. My colleague Rep. Mark Spreitzer created a really helpful set of common questions and answers about today, so I’m going to share them with you now: 

April 7th Election FAQ

Q: Can I still turn in my absentee ballot if I have it?

A: Yes! If you have your ballot and have not turned it in, you have two options. You can either get your ballot postmarked TODAY (you may want to specifically ask your post office to hand cancel it to make sure it gets postmarked) OR drop the ballot off at your polling place, clerk’s office, or drop box designated by your clerk no later than 8pm (check with your clerk in case drop off sites close earlier).

In Racine, we have a red mailbox outside of City Hall for our ballot drop-box.

Q: I turned in my ballot already but it hasn’t gotten to my clerk yet, will it count?

A: Yes! All absentee ballots must be postmarked before 8pm today, April 7th, and received by April 13th at 4pm. If you already sent it in, your ballot will count if it arrives by April 13th.

Q: If I sent my ballot in already but my clerk doesn’t have it yet, can I go vote at the polls?

A: No. If you go to vote when you have already been issued an absentee ballot, one of the things the poll workers will ask is whether you have returned your ballot yet. If you have already put the ballot in the mail, it is considered returned and you will not be allowed to vote again.

Q: If I requested my ballot but it has not arrived yet, am I able to get a ballot emailed to me? 

A: No. Despite a lot of folks sharing this information last night, the Wisconsin Elections Commission clarified that if you requested a ballot, but it is still on its way to you, you are not able to receive a replacement ballot via email. 

If you want to vote, you must go in-person to the polls or check your mail today and return that ballot before 8pm.

Q: I turned in a ballot without a witness signature under Judge Conley’s ruling. Does my ballot still count?

A: No, your absentee ballot will not count and state law does not allow another ballot to be issued on Election Day. This is really unfair, but the Wisconsin Elections Commission clarified last night that there is no solution for voters who followed Judge Conley’s order on witnesses while it was in force.

If you have not requested an absentee ballot, whether to go to the polls today is a choice each person must balance with their health and wellbeing. If you choose to vote, your polling place may have moved. You can find your polling place at MyVote.wi.gov.

Safety and Social Distancing at the Polls 

If you make the choice to go to the polls today, PLEASE:

1. Wash your hands before heading to your polling place. Then wash or sanitize your hands again when arriving at your polling place and before voting. A 70% alcohol spray solution will be available at most polling places.
2. Practice social distancing as much as you possibly can. Each polling place is set up to support some social distancing and public health changes, but we all share this responsibility whenever we leave home.
3. Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, and wear your homemade cloth mask, if you have one.
4. Please be patient when voting at the polls. The limited number of polling locations, combined with the public health procedures being used to protect you and our poll workers, will slow down some parts of this process. You may be asked to line up outside your polling place or voting area to ensure only a safe number of voters are in the voting area at one time, so dress for the weather. If you are ill and still need to vote on Election Day, curbside voting options are available.
5. Please thank your poll workers (briefly and from a distance). They are putting themselves at great risk today for our democracy.

Finally, I want to recognize all of the people who have reached out over the last several weeks to share their very real concerns about the risk an in-person election poses to the lives and health of the people of Racine. You need to know that your voices were heard, and that even with this result, your engagement mattered.

I woke up this morning feeling heartbroken by the state of our democracy and fearful for the lives of people of our state who have to choose between their safety and their right to vote. I’m horrified that many of you have to make this decision today, and I’m sorry that we couldn’t stop it. 

Today is a very sad day for our democracy, but your continued commitment to fight for better and refuse to accept these attacks on our democracy matters. It matters today, and it will matter in the future.

As always, please stay safe.

In Solidarity,

Greta Neubauer

State Representative

66th Assembly District

The Governor's office has launched a website with COVID-19 information and resources throughout the state government. You can visit it HERE. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a website tracking COVID-19 in Wisconsin and providing resources and guidance to the public, including resources from the CDC. This website is updated daily by 2:00 p.m. You can visit it HERE.